Did you know that before the discovery and development of antibiotics, people lived in a world where a simple throat scratch was fatal? Nowadays, this lifesaving medication protects you from infections that can lead to life-threatening illnesses if left untreated. Read on to find out how antibiotics work, the risks associated with their use and what you can do to ensure you’re reaping the optimal health benefits.

What are Antibiotics?

Before the first modern-day use of antibiotics dating back to 1936, nearly 30% of recorded deaths were caused by bacterial infections. Today, these previously fatal infections have become curable illnesses by using antibiotics. While there are many classifications of antibiotics, the most common types you will find include:

• Capsules
• Creams
• Liquids
• Ointments
• Tablets

How Do Antibiotics Work?

Antibiotics are more than just pills; they’re designed to fight bacterial invaders. Even though they don’t work against viral infections such as the cold or flu, they play a significant role in killing off bacteria or stopping them from multiplying and spreading the infection to major organs. This is what can happen when you are on an antibiotic treatment:

• Attack Bacterial Cell Walls: Antibiotics like penicillin break down bacterial walls and cause them to collapse.
• Disrupt Protein Production: Some antibiotics, such as tetracyclines, interfere with bacterial protein synthesis, effectively starving them so they can’t multiply.
• Block DNA Replication: Quinolones is an antibiotic which prevents bacteria from duplicating their DNA, stopping reproduction.
• Shut Down Vital Bacterial Metabolism: Sulfonamide (sulfa) drugs block the bacteria’s ability to produce necessary nutrients like folic acid for survival.

What is Proper Antibiotic Use?

For antibiotics to maintain these processes and preserve their efficacy, you should take them properly as a healthcare professional instructs. Things to keep in mind include:

• Receiving a total course of treatment that details the number of days you need to take your antibiotics. You should follow the instructions provided without defaulting.
• Only using the antibiotics provided to treat the bacterial infection for which you have been prescribed. You can’t save them for later use when you have a different bacterial infection.
• Antibiotics are tailored to each person’s specific health concerns. You must avoid using them when they have been prescribed for someone else.
• In most cases, you will use your total course of treatment and finish it. However, if any are left over, you should follow safe instructions to throw them away. If you are uncertain about the safest option, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Benefits of Using Antibiotics

Modern healthcare has significantly benefited from antibiotics. Here are the top advantages of relying on them:

• They can help to clear bacterial bodily infections.
• They can reduce symptoms and help with quick recovery.
• Reducing the risk of spreading infections to others.
• Protecting you from complications arising from severe illness.
• They’re fast-acting and lifesaving.

The Side Effects of Misusing Antibiotics

There are instances where the misuse and overuse of antibiotics can lead to severe health complications. The most common issue you might face is antibiotic resistance, which happens when they become ineffective in treating infections. The bacteria can change and develop new defences through mutation or gene manipulation, making it nearly impossible to treat infections.

The most common reasons for antibiotic resistance include incomplete treatment, misdiagnosis, and poor hygiene. When bacteria become immune to the prescribed course of treatment, it can lead to:

• An increased risk of illness, making it harder to prevent the spread of infection that can become life-threatening.
• Being hospitalised for further diagnostic testing.
• Lengthier treatments that could become more expensive.
• Fewer treatment options.
• More severe side effects from introducing new treatment options.
• An increased risk of spreading the infection to anyone with a compromised immune system.

How Does Antibiotic Resistance Happen?

1. Incomplete Courses: Stopping antibiotics before your course finishes allows surviving bacteria to adapt and become resistant.
2. Unnecessary Prescriptions: Taking antibiotics for viral infections (like colds or flu) instead of bacterial infections can make them ineffective and promote resistance.
3. Food consumption: Antibiotics in livestock feed on create resistant bacteria that can spread to humans when meat is consumed.

Common Conditions Antibiotics Treat

While there are various conditions that antibiotics can treat, it’s important to note that they target bacterial infections. If you have a viral infection, your doctor will recommend the right course of treatment. In some cases, bacterial infections like ear infections clear up on their own without the need for taking antibiotics unless it’s necessary due to specific complications.

These are examples of common conditions that are treated by antibiotics:

• Infections that affect your respiratory system, including strep throat or whooping cough.
• Skin and soft tissue infections.
• Urinary tract infections and some sexually transmitted infections (UTIs).
• Eye inflammations which cause pink eye and orbital cellulitis.
• Sepsis which is caused by a bacterial infection.

Sometimes, your immune system requires assistance to ward off illnesses that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Antibiotics are potent medications that effectively and quickly eliminate infections. The Affinity Health Day-to-Day and Combined plans include an Acute Medication Benefit, which ensures you receive the appropriate prescription for treating and managing common bacterial infections.